Breech loading fire arm



t e e W e e T m E N N E B G T BREEGH LOADING FIREARM.

Patented Nov. 9, 1886;

N, PETERS. Pholn-Lilhogmpher, Wilmington D, Q

(No Model.) 2 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. G. BENNETT. BREEGH LOADING FIRE ARM.

No. 352,292. Patented Nov. 9, 1886.

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N. PETERS. Fhnlo-ljllwgrapher. Wadnnglnm l)v C.

(No Model.) i s Sheets-Sheet 3.

T; G. BENNETT.

BREEGH LOADING FIRE ARM. N0. 352,292. Patented NOV. 9,1886.

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N PETERS. Pholo-Lilhompber. Washington D. C.

UNTTED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS G. BENNETT, OF NEW .HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352,292, dated November 9, 1886.

Application filed March 1, 1586. Serial No. 193,642. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS G. BENNETT, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented new 5 Improvements in BreechLoading Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying three sheets of drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said draw- "ings constitute part of this specification, and

represent, in

Figure 1, a side view showing the parts in the closed or normal condition; Fig. 2, the

1 same showing the parts in the open position;

Fig. 3, a transverse section through the connection between the rear end of the link and the stock; Fig. 4, a side view, and Fig. 5 a transverse section through the grip, showing the modification of the handle by which the link is operated.

This invention relates to an improvement in breech-loading firearms in which the breechpiece is operated by a lever beneath the rec'eiver, the lever usually forming the triggerguard. The handle portion of the lever extends to the rear of the trigger-guard, and lies beneath the grip portion of the stock, and in turning the lever the operator necessarily dis- 0 engages his hand from the grip to follow the long swinging movement ofthe lever, and must depend entirely upon his left or forward hand to support the arm against his shoulder.

The object of my invention is to provide a device through which the breech-piece may be operated, and which will enable the operator to substantially retain his hold upon the grip, and also avoid the long swinging movement necessary in opening the breech; and the in ,0 vention consists in a link arranged beneath the stock and in rear of the breech-piece, the rear end of the link adapted to slide backward and forward upon the under side of the stock, the forward end of the link hung to the breech- 5 piece or lever in connection therewith, the said link constructed so as to be readily grasped by the hand, and so that a forward and downward movement imparted to the forward end of the link by the hand of the operator will ;0 impart opening movement to the breech-piece,

and vice-versa, as more fulL-y hereinafter described.

In illustrating this invention I show it in a class of arms in which the breech-piece is hung upon a pivot to swing backward and forward 55 in opening, the particular mechanism of the -lu'eeoh-piece being substantially that shown in the Browning Patent No. 336,287, dated February 16, 1886; but I show this mechanism only as a matter of convenience, the invention being applicable to any of the many classes of breech pieces which are adapted to be operated by a lever beneath the receiver. A general description of the mechanism of the arm is therefore unnecessary, and I refer to it only so far as necessary to illustrate the invention.

A represents the receiver, to the forward endof which the barrel B is applied in the usual manner; C, the grip portion of the stock, formed on or attached to the receiver in the usual manner.

D represents the breechpiece, which is hung upon a pivot, a, in the receiver.

E is the trigger-guard or lever-like projection below the receiver, and which is. hung upon a pivot and so as to swing downward and forward in opening and upward and backward in closing. In this illustration this lever-like extension E is formed as an integral part of the breech-piece; but in arms such as the \Vinchester, for illustration, and which does not require to be described in this application, the levor-like extension which in that arm also forms the triggerguard is connected with the breech-piece, so that the same movement of the lever-like projection pro duces the same resultto wit, the opening and closing of the breech piece.

To the lever E and in rear of its pivot a link, F, ishung upon a pivot, Z). ,The link ex- 0 tends rearward beneath the grip portion of the arm and its rear end hung to a slide, G, arranged in suitable guides upon the underside of the grip. The slide is best arranged by constructing the lower tang with a' longitudi- 5 nal T-shaped groove, as seen in Fig. 3, and the slide of corresponding T shape and the link hung to the slide by a pivot, d. The link lies close up upon the under side of the stock.

I provide the link with a suitable handle by which the operator may work it, and this I prefer to make in the form of a loop, H, upon the under side ofthe link, and into which the operator may place the three fingers-whichusually take hold upon the under side of the grip, and so that when the hand is applied the fingers readily find their place within the loop and upon the under side of the link, so that by throwing the fingers downward the link is turned downward, and in such downward movement, because of its connection with the lever E in rear of its pivot, the link necessaril y moves forwardthat is, receives under the action of the fingers and lever a downward and forward movement in opening the breech-piece, as seen in Fig. 2, and then as the hand is brought back to the gripping position the link is returned and the breechpiece closed, as indicated in Fig. l. The link retains its connection with the stock at the grip, and the downward movement of the link is so slight that the thumb of the operatinghaud may still retain a bearing on the grip portion of the stock, and through the connection of the link with the stock the operating-hand is enabled to aid materially in the support of the arm against the shoulder. 'The extent of movement of the hand is very much less than necessary in the usual lever device, and consequently rapidity intiring the arm may be pro portionatelyincreased. Instead of making the handle portion in the form of a loop, it may be made in a U shape to embrace the grip of the stock, and so that the hand may ,more readily grasp it, as indicated in Figs. 4Land5. This illustration of the handle will be sufiicient to enable others skilled in the art to devise other convenient means for operating the link should it be desirable, and will also indicate that my invention is not to be understood as limited to any particular construction of handle by which the link may be 0perated.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the lever E, with which the link is connected, may be in connection with the breech through any of the known instrumentalities whereby the downward and forward move ment of the said lever E will impart the opening movement to the breech-piece, and the re turn of the lever will impart closing movement to the breech-piece. 3y the term lever,- therefore, I wish to be understood as including any instrumentality hung in the receiver adapted to be turned downward and forward, the said instrumentality being in connection with the breech-piece,so that the opening and closing movement of the breech-piece maybe imparted through the said instrumentality.

1. In a breech-loading fire-arm in which the breech-piece is opened by means of a lever-like extension below the receiver, hung upon a pivot and extending rearward there from so as to swing downward and forwardin opening, the breech-piece, the combination therewith of a link hung by its forward end to said extension in rear of its pivot, the said link extending rearward beneath the stock, its rear end hung to the stock, and so that said rear end may slide forward and backward in the opening and closing movement of the breech-piece, substantially as described.

2. In abreech-loading firearm in which the breech-piece is hung upon a pivot so as to swing downward and backward in opening and upward and forward in closing, the said breech-piece extended in rear of its pivot in the form of a lever through which the said breech-piece may be opened or closed, the combination therewith of a link the forward end of which is hung to said lever, the said link extended rearward and its rear end hung to the stock so as to slide longitudinally therein, substantially as, described.

3. In a breech-loading fire-arm in which the breech piece is opened and closed by means of a lever hung in the receiver and extending rearward below the receiver, the combination therewith ofalink, its forward end hung to the said lever in rear of its pivot, the link ex tending rearward beneath the stock, its rear end hung to the stock so as to be moved forward and backward, the said lever adapted to be grasped by the fingers at the grip, substantially as described, and whereby under the downward forward movement of the link thestantially as described.

THOMAS G. BENNETT.

Witnesses:

GEORGE E. HoDsoN, FRISBEY G. EIKER. 

